You're right. It is a right that everybody has "by rights", but the problem is that society prizes (or privileges) some people's rights over others.
And sure language matters. And if we say "right", then because we used that word then people who are bigger assholes than you say "It's a free country! You have the right to say what you want to! The law will protect you if you say it and punish anybody who hurts you for it!"
See, this is one reason why we need a separate word to cover privilege. It covers the actual dynamics of society. In a feudal society with literal classes/castes, privilege is explicit... it literally means "private law", i.e., one law for the royalty, one law for the nobles, one law for the freemen, one law for the serfs.
In our society, privilege is more implicit, and whether you look at it as "something extra that you have" or "something that everybody else lacks" is a matter of perspective. And you know what? Quibbling over which perspective to take is a luxury of the people who are above those below.
It's like arguing whether you're five feet higher or they're five feet lower when flood waters are coming in... maybe you have the time and inclination to pursue the fine distinction as an intellectual matter, but they don't.
It's a privileged perspective, in other words.
Obviously whether the solution is to raise everybody else up five feet or lower the people who are above down five feet is going to depend on what the hell we're talking about.
Is there any way it makes any kind of sense to think that anyone who calls this example of relationship status "privilege" is agitating to make everyone else shut up about their relationships?" Any way?
If there isn't then your objection sounds awfully disingenuous.
I mean, let's look at what you're saying here. How much does language matter to you? You're saying you get "hung up" and "defensive" when people use the word privilege because you feel like somebody's taking something away from you.
Do you act on these feelings? Does it change how you view people who are fighting for their rights, based on the word they choose to describe their plight? Does it alter your willingness to support them.
If so, then the people I described above as being "bigger assholes" are still bigger assholes than you... but... yeah. How does that not make you an asshole?
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2010-02-19 01:16 am (UTC)And sure language matters. And if we say "right", then because we used that word then people who are bigger assholes than you say "It's a free country! You have the right to say what you want to! The law will protect you if you say it and punish anybody who hurts you for it!"
See, this is one reason why we need a separate word to cover privilege. It covers the actual dynamics of society. In a feudal society with literal classes/castes, privilege is explicit... it literally means "private law", i.e., one law for the royalty, one law for the nobles, one law for the freemen, one law for the serfs.
In our society, privilege is more implicit, and whether you look at it as "something extra that you have" or "something that everybody else lacks" is a matter of perspective. And you know what? Quibbling over which perspective to take is a luxury of the people who are above those below.
It's like arguing whether you're five feet higher or they're five feet lower when flood waters are coming in... maybe you have the time and inclination to pursue the fine distinction as an intellectual matter, but they don't.
It's a privileged perspective, in other words.
Obviously whether the solution is to raise everybody else up five feet or lower the people who are above down five feet is going to depend on what the hell we're talking about.
Is there any way it makes any kind of sense to think that anyone who calls this example of relationship status "privilege" is agitating to make everyone else shut up about their relationships?" Any way?
If there isn't then your objection sounds awfully disingenuous.
I mean, let's look at what you're saying here. How much does language matter to you? You're saying you get "hung up" and "defensive" when people use the word privilege because you feel like somebody's taking something away from you.
Do you act on these feelings? Does it change how you view people who are fighting for their rights, based on the word they choose to describe their plight? Does it alter your willingness to support them.
If so, then the people I described above as being "bigger assholes" are still bigger assholes than you... but... yeah. How does that not make you an asshole?